Ohh Summer...

Whoa!!!!!!!!!!!! Summer is back again!! The smell of those exotic fruits mangoes, jack fruits, watermelons, tendu, mulberries, jamun, kusum (Ceylon Oak), cashew apples, wood apples, jamrul (water Apple or java Apple and rose apple)etc, the aroma of those beautiful white flowers of summer like kamini (urraya), jasmine, tube rose and what not, the fragrance of the wet mud after a sudden rain, the croaking of the irritating frogs, those dark nights lying in a wooden cot looking high up to the sky filled with bright stars. This season itself brings into mind those scotching as well chilly cherished memories of my childhood. I wish I could again live those easy, breezy, relaxing and colorful days.

My childhood was spent in Odisha, summers there are fiery hot with the mercury level literally rising to nearly 50 degree centigrade. But still in those days we never bothered about sun tan, darkening, sun burn etc etc......, I must rather admit that I was then completely ignorant about such terms. Summers for us, me and my elder brother, was where we used to eagerly wait for our long vacations, when we could be visiting our grandparent's house with those crazy, mischievous fun with cousins. Near my village there is a famous sweet water lake known as "Anshupa", where we used to go for those long swimming sessions. And can you guess the method of learning swimming????…It was just by keeping an inverted large brass pot like a vase which had a narrow neck below our bellies and then swim. I remember we used to stay in the waters until we had wrinkles on our palms and fingers and had doses of heavy warnings and scoldings from our elders to come out. 

The famous Odia festival ‘Raja’ which is observed for four days in the month of June, was also a part of our summer holidays. In this festival "GIRLS" were treated as "GODDESS", and for these four days they were not allowed to do any kind of work. This festival for us was meant to wear new clothes, sing, play with various kinds of swings tied to the branches of the huge mango trees in our backyard, feed on many traditional delicious cuisines prepared by Mom, aunts and grandmother and enjoy to our heart felt. 

These days the picture of summers has been transformed. The cool breeze has been converted to close room air conditions, swimming sessions are in those chlorine filled pools, restrictions from UVA & UVB. Global warming, deforestation, sun strokes, water crisis are a matter of drawing room discussions and the fun is restricted to some holiday destinations which have replaced those sweet memories. 

Now when I am at Delhi-NCR far away from my home town, sometimes sitting alone in my 10th floor apartment, in spite of my hectic schedules I chose to revive my childhood memories by making some slight changes to my house to at least feel those refreshing days. Below are my efforts, to help you connect to your days as well.

This summer I thought of enlivening my living room by adding few simple and natural products made of wood, bamboo, grass etc along with some sea shells. So they all came out of cupboard to make my home more cheerful and appealing.

In summer it’s always preferred to have calm, soothing, bright and sunny colours of summer to lighten the look of home. For me simple, easy to clean and maintain decor are always welcome.

This table vignette finds a place on my dinning table. This boat shaped tray gifted by my sister in-law, is from Africa. On which I have placed two tea light holders along with few sea shells. 

My hand made paper mache tray with my cactus pot finds a place on a side table. Check out my paper mache coasters here and if you want to make a pot like this here is the tutorial. Will soon make a post on the paper mache tray also. Initially this pot was in my garden but the plant in it died *sad* , so brought it inside for some indoor decoration.

Have this on another side table..Isn't it beautiful :) :)

On the coffee table. This is the cover of a bamboo steamer that I used as a tray to display some vignettes. Look at the small tribal mask, it's my husband's latest find from a local market...isn't it very very cute.

A very good pal of mine Ipsita had gifted me these hangings made of grass sticks, which got a place beside the curtains in the dinning hall. I feel lucky to have such friends and relatives who gift me things that I just love. 

This setting is done near the TV unit. These grass baskets are from Odisha, which my mother in-law had gifted me. Few days back decorated these small bottles using twine and sea shells for the sea themed summer decoration. I love to collect bottles and make few items from time to time. Find out what I have made with some bottles here. 

I just love to bring outdoors in. They add a great value to the place and uplift the spirit of any room without much commitment of money or time.

Summer is incomplete without some refreshing and chilled drinks. So enjoying a variety of hand made good for health drinks time to time. Colourful and yummy Kokkum drink is one of my favorite. Again this bamboo tray brings a perfect summer feeling and look. 

I hope you all will love my sea themed decoration and also bring in that cheer in your place. So lets enjoy this summer with our loved once and stay happy & healthy. :) :)

Paper Mache Tea Coasters

We come across a lot of things daily which we think are waste products and don’t hesitate to show them the way to dustbin, but they should be given a second chance and should be reused. From a long time I was thinking of making something with paper mache but my mind didn’t permit me to use old newspaper for that, as newspapers can be used for many other purposes too. Then I started storing egg cartons for paper mache.

I am a tea lover and at my place coffee mugs are always purchased in pairs, for me and the man in the house :). But often don't find coasters according to the mugs and when I find the matching one another problem is that what will I do with a set of six as I need only two pieces. So believing in the mantra of 'want it make it', before few days I made some coasters. Today I am going to share how I made some very beautiful tea coasters by using paper mache.

Items required for making paper pulp
1- Egg cartons (You can also use any paper or cartons)
2- Plaster of Paris
3- Water

Items required for making the final item
4- A plastic scale
5- Acrylic paint
6- A white paper
7- A pencil
8- Paint brushes

Step-1
Tear the egg cartons to small pieces and soak in water over night.

Step-2
Grind this along with water into a smooth paste.

Step-3
Strain this pulp, so that all water drains out. Squeeze out the water as much as possible.

Step-4
Mix paper pulp with plaster of paris in 2:1 ratio. Knead well for sometime.

Make a dough like this. It will not become completely smooth like flour dough.

Step-5

Draw the required shape on paper.

Step-6
Fill the shapes with paper pulp.

Step-7
Flatten it properly with wet hands, so that it's surface becomes smooth.

Step-8
Now using a plastic scale give the impressions of a leaf. Leave it to dry for a complete day (You can give any shape and size).

Step-9
Now paint it with your desired colours. I painted them according to my coffee mugs.

After painting it allow the paint to dry for few minutes and then it's ready to use.Don't wash these, they can be wiped and cleaned with a damp cloth.By using three egg cartons I made six coasters and some other items too (That's a suspense ;) ).

So use less amount of cartons if you don't want to make so many items.Those items are coming soon on blog. :) :)

Have a look on the other tea coasters that I have made. They are customized according to the coffee mugs.

Red button tea coasters...

And some round printed tea coasters....

Creating something by using a waste product brings immense satisfaction and joy to me. I keep on falling in love with them daily. :) :)

Garden Accessory: DIY Mushroom

I have a small balcony garden and just love to add a lot of characters and drama to it. Garden accessories perk up the space and something handmade can add life to any place. Today I am going to share an idea that I had made around before two years when I moved to my present home. Before few days I have made it again only to share the idea with you all. It's a very simple and inexpensive DIY i.e. to make small small cute cute mushrooms to enhance the beauty of your garden using Plaster of Paris. So let's make it. :) :)

Items required:

1- Plaster of Paris 

2- Egg shells (If you are vegetarian can use any other thing that will give a half circle shape or can go for appam pan having small small circles or chocolate moulds)

3- Acrylic Paint 

4- Paint Brush

5- Some pens (I used some use and through pens that I never threw after using ;) or you can use normal sticks)  

6- A pot and a spoon for mixing Plaster of Paris 

7- Water

Step-1

Mix POP and water in 2:1 ratio and make a mixture like this. 

Step-2

Fill the egg shells with the POP mixture by gently tapping it. So that no air bubble is left.

Step-3

Then immediately put the pen in it. (Don't allow the POP mixture to stand for some time as it dries very fast.)

Step-4

Allow it to dry completely under sun for one whole day. Then slowly take out the egg shells. Some time they may not come out very easily, then try to remove the shell slowly by breaking it with fingers from one side. Do it just as you peel the boiled eggs. 

Step-5

First apply one coat of white colour from all sides. 

Step-6

Then paint it with whatever patterns you want using colours of your own choice. I kept it simple with the polka dots and colours according to the colours of the pen I used.

Tada its ready.. :) :)

The best thing about these mushrooms are that they are very inexpensive, looks beautiful and are water resistant so can keep it in the outdoor without worrying about sun and rain :) :). My garden looks so happy with these mushrooms. I think you all must love to bring that happiness to your place too. I have also made a hanging bird bath for my garden, you can find the tutorial here. 

I have made a full one dozen of it, some are in my garden and some are packed as gifts for some of my plant loving friends.

Hope you will find this tutorial useful.

Keep smiling :) :)